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Current Affairs

US Charges Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya and Other Mexican Politicians for Drug Trafficking

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By Samantha Johnson / April 29, 2026

“Socalj” for Borderland Beat
The United States Department of Justice indicted the Governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha Moya , as well as nine other Mexican officials, on drug and weapons-related crimes linked to the Sinaloa Cartel .

Among those accused are current and former high-ranking officials from both the government and law enforcement agencies of the state of Sinaloa, who are accused of associating with the Sinaloa Cartel to distribute large quantities of drugs to the United States.

It was the US ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson , who announced that the charges were filed this Wednesday by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office for the Southern District of New York, stating that “it is what our citizens on both sides of the border want and, as I have pointed out repeatedly, it is what they deserve .”

Officials are accused of participating in the violence and reprisals, including the murder of cartel enemies.
The governor of Sinaloa has also been linked to the handover of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
 
The indictment against the officials includes their probable involvement in a corrupt and violent drug trafficking conspiracy with the cartel to import fentanyl , heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States.

Furthermore, they are accused of protecting the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, currently in dispute after the surrender of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in July 2024, to prevent them from being investigated, arrested or prosecuted.

Los Chapitos Links

The United States also accuses them of providing confidential information from Mexican law enforcement and the Army to members of the criminal organization, as well as to their allies.

“They ordered members of state and local law enforcement agencies, such as the Sinaloa State Police, the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office Investigation Police, and the Culiacán Municipal Police, to protect drug shipments stored in Mexico and in transit to the United States,” the indictment details.

These officials also allegedly allowed cartel members to commit acts of violence with impunity. In exchange for their likely cooperation, they allegedly received thousands of dollars.

The United States Department of Justice directly linked them to the Los Chapitos faction, led by Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán , sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera.
Rubén Rocha Moya, for conspiracy to import narcotics; possession of machine guns and explosive devices; conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Enrique Inzunza Cazárez, current senator and former general secretary of Sinaloa: conspiracy to import narcotics; possession of machine guns and explosive devices; conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Enrique Díaz Vega, former Secretary of Administration and Finance of Sinaloa: conspiracy to import narcotics; possession of machine guns and explosive devices; conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Damaso Castro Zaavedra, Deputy Attorney General of the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Sinaloa: conspiracy to import narcotics; possession of machine guns and explosive devices; conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Marco Antonio Almanza Aviles, former head of the Investigation Police of the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Sinaloa: conspiracy to import narcotics; possession of machine guns and explosive devices; conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.

Alberto Jorge Contreras Nunez “Cholo” former head of the Investigative Police for the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office: Possession of machineguns and destructive devices; Conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices

Gerardo Merida Sanchez former Secretary of Public Security for Sinaloa: Narcotics importation conspiracy; Possession of machineguns and destructive devices; Conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices

Jose Antonio Dionisio Hipolito “Tornado” Former Deputy Director of the Sinaloa State Police: Narcotics importation conspiracy; Possession of machineguns and destructive devices; Conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices

Juan de Dios Gamez Mendivil Mayor of Culiacan: Narcotics importation conspiracy; Possession of machineguns and destructive devices; Conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices


Juan Antonio Valenzuela Millán, “Comandante Juanito” or “Julieta,” a commander within the Culiacán Municipal Police: Narcotics importation conspiracy; Possession of machineguns and destructive devices; Conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices; Kidnapping resulting in death; Conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death.
Specifically, he is charged the kidnappings of confidential DEA source Alexis Alberto Meza Leon and his 13-year old nephew in October 2023. Gunmen for “El Nini” attempted to kidnap him, instead taking his nephew and sister. Days later in Durango, the informant, his nephew and six others were found dead after being tortured and killed.
The following month, “El Nini” was arrested and eventually extradited to the US.
Sources DOJ, Infobae


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